Following Dubai World Cup Carnival’s Super Saturday at Meydan, Geoffrey Riddle looks at five lessons to learn from the race action.
Postponed must prove himself in Dubai Sheema Classic
In all likelihood Postponed will improve from his defeat in the Dubai City Of Gold at Meydan on Saturday and be extremely competitive in defence of his $US6million (Dh22.04m) turf crown on March 25.
There were signs, however, that all was not well with the six-year-old entire. He was not the sort of cool, unflustered athlete of last season in the parade ring and he kicked at the start, too, and required a blindfold to enter the stalls.
Jockey Andrea Atzeni blamed the poor behaviour on his mount’s dislike for outrider’s ponies but they will be there on World Cup night, as they were when Postponed negotiated them with little hassle 12 months ago. Throw in the fact Sheikh Mohammed Obaid’s flag-bearer lost for the second time in succession and you have to at least question whether he is the same horse.
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Dubai Turf looks the race of World Cup night
Decorated Knight’s fast-finishing win in the Jebel Hatta highlighted that Roger Charlton’s raider is rapidly improving. He has to keep along that arc, however, if he is going to make a dent in the $6m Dubai Turf which the British trainer won in 2012 with Cityscape.
The Jebel Hatta on Saturday was a Group 1 race only in name, and pitching up to Meydan on March 25 will be Godolphin’s Ribchester, Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid’s Mutakayyef, the impressive French challenger Zarak and last year’s winner Real Steel. Local challenger Championship also has been improving at a rate of knots under the careful guidance of Ahmad Bin Harmash. It looks a tough spot.
Long River may be reaching his prime
It can occasionally take horses a season or two to find their form in Dubai. Long River has had his fair share of problems and his Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 success was his first victory in the UAE from nine attempts since transferring from the US stable of Kiaran McLaughlin. It was also his first win over 2000 metres from four attempts.
Trainer Salem Bin Ghadayer was at loss to explain the improved performance when interviewed by the stewards, but it may just be that the American import is finally settling in at his trainer’s plush facility. He did finish third to Tonalist in the Grade 1 Jockey Gold Cup in 2014, after all.
North America will be very hard to beat in the Godolphin Mile
North America has twice beaten Heavy Metal, who thumped his rivals in the Burj Nahaar on Saturday.
Collateral formlines are dangerous to accept as fact, but North America simply looks the best dirt miler in the UAE right now.
It is understood the connections of crack US challenger Sharp Azteca have accepted their invitation, however, and he could be very dangerous.
Whip happy European jockeys
Time and again European jockeys have come to Meydan on fleeting visits and have been punished for a strange approach to whip use. Atzeni was reprimanded by the stewards for hitting Postponed in front of the saddle while holding his whip in his forehand, and hitting his mount excessively without giving him a chance to respond.
Irish rider Oisin Murphy was fined Dh1,000 for hitting Alabaster 13 times in the Burj Nahaar, and it was the second time he has fallen foul of whip-related offences this season. Atzeni and Murphy are unlikely to try it in Britain, where they are both based and where there are whip restrictions on the number of times you can encourage your horse, so why try it here?
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